“Everything we do — even education and higher education — we want people to know that they're welcome, and that the doors are open. We want the same with the cultural center,” said Marilu Reyna, associate vice president for institutional advancement and university communications. “We don't want people to be intimidated by it; so we thought it was important to include (casa) in the name.”

A&M-San Antonio took over the building in Market Square in November under an agreement with the city, which owns the facility known as the Centro de Artes. The center tentatively is scheduled to open in September. Programming will continue the Museo Alameda's mission to tell the story of the Latino experience in the United States.

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“I think that with the new name, it's really an indication that Texas A&M and the city want to continue to celebrate in the tradition of the Latino experience,” said Felix Padrón, director of the city's Culture and Creative Development Department.

Touted as the first formal affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Museo Alameda closed in 2012 after about five years in operation. It struggled financially throughout its brief run, and never drew the expected crowds.

A&M-San Antonio is partnering with the city in the new venture.

The city is contributing $450,000 in funding to support the center for the next three years, including $300,000 from the Market Square fund for building maintenance and utilities and $150,000 in arts funding from the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund.

Reyna said A&M-San Antonio expects to announce the name of the center's cultural program manager within the next few weeks.